Trading Silver (SI)
Gold's louder cousin — a metal with industrial demand and outsized volatility.
Session: Globex nearly 24h; active around US and London
Silver is gold with a higher beta and an industrial leg. It moves on the same macro as gold but harder, and its thinner liquidity makes the swings sharper. The same setup that's comfortable in gold can be twice the heart rate in silver.
The desk reads SI off the same macro frame as gold — rates, dollar, risk — but sizes for its volatility and leans on Volume Profile to avoid getting chopped up in its noise. The regime gate keeps you out of the long stretches where silver just whips.
A 0.005 move in silver is $25 a contract — the largest per-tick of these instruments. Silver punishes oversizing faster than almost anything else; respect the leverage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the tick value of silver (SI) futures?
One tick in COMEX silver (SI) is $0.005, worth $25.00 per contract — the highest per-tick dollar value among the common metals and index contracts.
Why is silver more volatile than gold?
Silver has a smaller, thinner market and a larger industrial-demand component, so it tends to move further and faster than gold on the same macro drivers. Higher beta, higher heart rate.
Is silver good for day trading?
Silver offers strong range, but its $25 tick and thinner liquidity mean dollar risk and slippage add up fast. It rewards smaller size and tight, defined risk far more than it rewards conviction.
Educational only — not investment advice. Futures trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone. Tick values and sessions are standard; margins vary by broker and change over time — confirm current requirements before trading.